Health literacy and coronavirus disease 2019 prevention behaviors of village health volunteers in Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand 10.55131/jphd/2023/210305
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Village health volunteers (VHVs) play crucial leadership roles in promoting health behavior changes including searching for, controlling, and preventing the spread of COVID-19 within their communities. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between health literacy and COVID-19 prevention behaviors of 425 VHVs in Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand, who were selected using a multistage sampling method. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression analysis to determine correlations. Results revealed that most participants demonstrated good overall health literacy (63.3%), with COVID-19 prevention behaviors at a high level (53.6%). A positive correlation was observed between overall health literacy and COVID-19 prevention behavior (r = 0.103, p-value < 0.05). After adjusting for age in years, the overall health literacy score was found to be significantly related to the COVID-19 prevention behavior score (Beta = 0.146). These findings can be utilized to further enhance health literacy among VHVs in Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand and serve as a guideline to promote effective disease prevention behaviors within local communities.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Wang C, Horby PW, Hayden FG, Gao GF. A novel coronavirus outbreak of global health concern. Lancet. 2020: 15;395(10223):470-3. doi: 10.1016/ S0140-6736(20)30185-9.
World Health Organization. WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard [Internet]. [cited 2022 Jun 29]. Available from: https://covid19. who.int/
Dryhurst S, Schneider CR, Kerr J, Freeman ALJ, Recchia G, van der Bles AM, et al. Risk perceptions of COVID-19 around the world. Journal of Risk Research. 2020;23(7-8):994-1006. doi: 10.1080/13669877.2020.1758193
World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation report [Internet]. 2020[cited 2022 Aug 15]. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports.
Fakhira AD, Pawitra AS, Diyanah KC, Wikurendra EA, Nagy I, Abdeljawad NSM. Awareness of Doing 3M (Wearing Mask, Physical Distancing, Washing Hands) During Pandemic Era in Rural and Urban Families. Jurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan. 2021;13(2):94-101. doi: 10.20473/jkl. v13i2.2021.94-101
Doung-Ngern P, Suphanchaimat R, Panjangampatthana A, Janekrongtham C, Ruampoom D, Daochaeng N, et al. Case-Control Study of Use of Personal Protective Measures and Risk for SARS-CoV 2 Infection, Thailand. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020;26(11):2607-16. doi: 10.3201/eid2611.203003
Kaeodumkoeng K. Health literacy processes, practices, evaluation tools. 1st ed. Bangkok: Ideol Digital Print; 2021.
Health Education Division. Nonthaburi: Planning and Assessment Group; 2021- Summary of Health Literacy and Behavior Assessment Results Health of the people in the target group (working and school age) [Internet]. 2021[cited 2022 Jan 17]. Available from: file:///C:/Users/ AHS/Downloads/240220221017002446_linkhed.pdf
Chinapong S, Kaosanit P. Health literacy, Health behaviors, and Physical Activities of North Bangkok University Undergraduate Students. J Health PhyEd Rec. 2020;46(2):56-67.
Department of Health Service Support. A New generation of VHVs. Nonthaburi: Ministry of Public Health; 2011.
Yaowakul D, Abdullakasim P, Maharachpong. Health Literacy on Coronavirus disease 2019 Prevention behaviors of Village Health Volunteers in Region 6 Health Provider. RDHSJ. 2022;15(1):257-72.
Geboers B, Reijneveld SA, Jansen CJ, de Winter AF. Health Literacy Is Associated With Health Behaviors and Social Factors Among Older Adults: Results from the LifeLines Cohort Study. J Health Commun. 2016;21 (sup2):45-53. doi: 10.1080/10810730. 2016.1201174
Choompunuch B, Suksatan W, Sonsroem J, Kutawan S, In-udom A. Stress, adversity quotient, and health behaviors of undergraduate students in a Thai university during COVID-19 outbreak. Belitung Nursing Journal. 2021;7(1):1-7. doi: https://doi.org/ 10.33546/bnj.1276
Konsnan W, Poum A. Health Literacy Associated with Preventing and Controlling Behavior of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever among Village Health Volunteers in Nong Yai Sub-district Orasat District, Surin Proince. JHSCPH. 2022;5(1):35-44.
Javadzade, SH, Sharifirad, G, Radjati, F, Mostafavi, F, Reisi, M, Hasanzade, A. Relationship between health literacy, health status, and healthy behaviors among older adults in Isfahan, Iran. J Educ Health Promotion. 2012;1:31.
Bennett IM, Chen J, Soroui JS, White S. The contribution of health literacy to disparities in self-rated health status and preventive health behaviors in older adults. Ann Fam Med. 2009;7(3):204-11. doi: 10.1370/afm.940
Wongti S. Factors Affecting Preventive behavior for Coronavirus disease 2019 among Village Health Volunteers, Sukhothai Province [dissertation]. Phitsanulok: Naresuan University; 2021.
Health Education Division. Assessment form for health literacy and health behaviors of working-age people in villages to modify health behaviors. Ministry of Public Health [Internet]. 2020. Available from: http://www. hed.go.th/linkHed/403
Pasion R, Paiva TO, Fernandes C, Barbosa F. The AGE Effect on Protective Behaviors During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Sociodemographic, Perceptions and Psychological Accounts. Front Psychol. 2020;11:561785. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg. 2020.561785
Pothisa T, Ong-Artborirak P, Seangpraw K, Tonchoy P, Kantow S, Auttama N, et al. Knowledge of COVID-19 and Its Relationship with Preventive Behaviors and Vaccination among Adults in Northern Thailand's Community. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3). doi: 10.3390/ ijerph19031521.
Jaikham J, Wungrath J, Thongprachum A. Health Literacy and Health Promoting Behaviors Regarding to 3E.2S. (Eating, Exercise, Emotion, Stop Smoking and Stop Alcohol) Among Village Health Volunteers in Ban Hong District, Lamphun Province. JOHSS. 2021:8(2):1-24.
Nawsuwan K, Singweratham N, Damsangsawas N. Correlation of perception disease severity to implementation role for control of CVID-19 in communities among village health volunteers in Thailand. Bamras J. 2020;14(2):92-103.
Department of Health Service Support. Organization of the VHVs system and the public sector for local quarantine and home quarantine. Nonthaburi: Ministry of Public Health. 2020.
Nutbeam D. Health literacy as a public health goal: A challenge for contemporary health education and ommunication strategies into the 21stcentury. Health Promotion International 2000;15(3):259-67.
Kotpan K, Junnua N. Associated between Health Literacy and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Prevention Behavior among Peoplein Mukdahan Province. The 16th National Academic Conference grants research during 11-12 July 2022 at Ubon Ratchathani University and Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals in the Next Normal. p.148-60.
Nilnate N, Proasomsuk S, Prasit N, Nilnate P, Yotha N, Thammasarn K. Health Literacy and COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors among the Working-Age Population in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Health Sci J Thai. 2022;4(4):10-8.
Sørensen K, Van den Broucke S, Fullam J, Doyle G, Pelikan J, Slonska Z, et al. Health literacy and public health: a systematic review and integration of definitions and models. BMC Public Health. 2012;12:80. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-80.